Car-coupling



.(No Model.)

Y T. B. WINN, GAR GOUPLING.

V1\Io.420,258. Patented Jan. 28, 1890.

p car-coupler.

UNITED STATES PATENT Ustica.

THOMAS B. VINN, OF DARIEN, GEORGIA.'

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 420,258, dated January 28, 1890.

Application filed July l5, 1889. Serial No. 317,507. (No model.)

of Georgia, have invented anew and useful- Improvement in Car-Couplings, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to car-couplings; and it consists in a newand improved device by the use of which the common link-and-pin coupling now in general use is rendered automatic, avoiding all necessity' for going between the cars to couple or uncouple them; and my invention will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar section on the linee Ll, Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view hereinafter referred to.

The same numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the gures.

Referring to the several parts by their numerals, 1 indicates the end of a car having the usualdraw-head 2 and spring-buffer 3 at the rear of the movable draw-bar.

The above-described parts are old, and I make no claim for them.

On the rear part of the draw -head is clamped a metal frame 4., the side `pieces of which are formed with the central apertures 4S.

5 5 indicate the side levers, which are pivoted near their rear ends to the clampingframe 4 by bolts 6, the projecting heads of which on the inner sides of the 'side pieces of frame 4, fit into recesses 7, which are formed in the draw-head, thuspreventing the device from moving or working backward or forward on the draw-head. The outer ends of the levers 5 are pivoted to the lower ends of a U-shaped metal strap or frame S, to thev center of which is secured by its upper end the coupling-.pin 9. The center of frame 8 can be formed with a hole and the pin brazed or otherwise secured therein, so that the common coupling-pins already in use can' be utilized. The coupling-pin 9 iits down through the usual top and bottom holes 2n of the draw-head.

10 indicates arocksshaft, which is secured in bearings 11 beneath the end of the car,

being provided at each end with a handle l2, and having a collar 13 at the inner side of each bearing 11 to hold the shaft from lateral movement. The rock-shaft has two curved cams 14, formed each near their free ends with a shoulder 15. The inner short ends of the pivoted side levers 5 are formed with notches 16, with which the shouldered free ends of the cams 14 engage.

To couple two approaching carstogether, therock-shaft is turned by raising one of its end handles 12 in the direction indicated by the arrow, when the curved cams 14, pressing against the rear ends, of the pivoted levers 5 5, raise the front end of the said levers until the shoulders 15 of the cams engage with the notches 16 4of the inner ends of the levers.

When the front ends of the levers 5 are thus raised, they raise with them the frame 8 and coupling-pin 9, so that the link of the approaching car can enter the draw-head. When the carsmeet, the end of the link 17 enters the draw-head, and the bumping together of the cars jolts the shouldered ends of the shaft-cams out of the end notches 16 of the inner ends of the levers, when the weight of the front ends of the levers 5, frame S, and pin 9 causes them to fall, the pin passing down through the linkland apertures 2 of the draw-head. To uncouple cars, the pin is raised by raising one of the end handles of the rock-shaft, as above described, thus freeing the link.

It will be seen that my new and improved device is exceedingly simple, compact, strong, and cheap in construction, and that it canbe attached in a very short time and at a very small cost to any of the old common link-and pin couplings and will render them perfectly automatic, and avoiding all necessity for going between the cars in coupling and uncoupling. The handles, collars, and cams of the rock-shaft can be made removable, in order to permit of their being removed, and the shaft run through bearing-holes in the sills of the car when desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire` to secure by Letters Patent, ism

1. In a carcoupling, the combination, with a draw-head, of Athe side levers pivoted near their rear ends on the draw-head and having IOO ing-frame, the frame 8, and the coupling-pin' secured at its upper end in the said frame, and the rock-shaft having the curved shouldered canas 14' andthe end'handies, substml tially as set forth.

3. In a car-coupling, the combination, With a draw-head formed with the side recesses 7, ofthe clamping-frame 4, Uhe bolts, having their extended heads fit-ting in the recesses '7, the vside levers formed with the notched rear ends and pivoted on the bolts 6, the

:frame S, and the coupling-pin secured at its upper end in the said frame, and the rockshaft having the curved shouldered cams 14 andthe end handles, substantially as set 'n forth'.

THOMAS B. WINN Witnessesz' G; HHOPK'INS, J. J. WOODARD. 

